The Fabulous 413

This time we're bridging the gap between the page and screen. Big screens. Mr. Universe, Salman Hameed, puts on his other hat, that as a member of the directorial board for Amherst Cinema , to inform us about their Science on Screen series , starting with the film adaptation of "After Yang" (which is also a pretty great novella , if you're into reading it as well). We check in with NEPM Reporter N...

To paraphrase one of our guests, the mountains were very much the backbone of this show. Nestled in them, we found ourselves back at the Clark Art Institute with director of communications Vicki Saltzman, perusing some of their new acquisitions and finding out how they are celebrating the 50th birthday of their building . The mountains were a large factor behind the two regions of wines we sampled...

In our plywood ramp to the weekend, we dig into some more art. We head to Williamstown to tour the Clark Art Institute with director of communications Vicki Saltzman and hear where the bones are buried. And also see the painting that was the founder's favorite. In mcgoverning with Rep. Jim McGovern , we hear about reading banned books to children at the Library of Congress. (There's tons of art in...

Illumination was the name of the game for us, in that it's spring so more things should be brought to light after a full season of dark times. And to that end we begin our new series "Meet the Mayors" with Holyoke's own, Joshua Garcia , who tells us not just of the fun fusion foods the St. Patrick's Day parade brings, but of many of the uphill battles the city faces as they move toward the future....

What today needs is a little action; a little something to remind us that it's spring. So we dance with the Martha Graham Company as they arrive in Amherst and Storrs, CT with new and old work in tow. Artistic director Janet Eilber and current company dancer Anne Souder show us how legacy work can still innovate, and how far Graham's technique truly reaches. Then we head off to Sunderland to Thoma...

As Sun Ra says: space is the place. So we brought folx into the studio who could bring us to the stars. Shelburne astronaut Dr. Cady Coleman joins us to bring light to life on the space station ( she was there for nearly 6 months), including who gets to go these days. Also she tells us details of her training to become an astronaut, just in case you're looking into the process. The visit of one Sp...

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh uilig amuigh ansin! Ár gcéad seó le gach Aoi beo! For St. Patrick's Day, we decide to be extra Irish by learning the language! So we invite Fulbright Scholar Emer Maguire and Gerald Costello of Elms College to come and teach us a few phrases. They also give us a quick look at how the language has evolved and endured, even here in western Massachusetts! Rosemary...

We cover a lot of ground today! Rep. Jim McGovern gives us his thoughts on what's happening with the recent approval of Alaskan drilling, reparations, and pitfalls not to fall into while digging yourself out of all the snow we just got. Louise Dunphy of Celtic Crossings shows us a quick guide to all your Celtic entertainment this St. Patrick's Day weekend. Artistic director Kristen Van Ginhoven sp...

It's the Ides of March! Perfect time to look at the workforce! But much like Caesar getting senate approval, it's not easy to make a change if employment's what you seek. NEPM Senior Reporter Nancy Cohen shares a story about the digital divide as it applies to employment and western Massachusetts. This, of course, then inspires Monte and Kaliis to test their own digital skills, and the resiliency...

We were all about speaking today. First we spoke to the earth, getting the low-down on winter agriculture with Alice Coleman of Stony Hill Farm in Wilbraham and Phil Korman of CISA . Then we got into the guts of linguistics and how it evolves with Amherst College professor Ilan Stavans through his new book "The People's Tongue: Americans and the English Language." The book features an essay by NEP...

To break up your Monday doldrums, we brought out some big names. That, we're told, is how you do it. Mr. Universe, Dr. Salman Hameed , teaches us a lot about "moon time", and a little about how awesome the song "Naatu Naatu" is. (You can see videos about everything Monte and Mr. Universe chatted about at Kainaat Studios ) Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll visited to explain the nuances of a new position devel...

Today is full of exciting things to put in your weekend schedule! Local musician Kimaya Diggs sings us selections from her brand new album "Quincy" just ahead of the CD release show at The Drake in Amherst on Saturday. Then we enter the Wine Thunderdome once again, this time accompanied by Benson Hyde and Bruce McAmis of Provisions . We get a look at terroir as well as a preview of the selections...

There's music in the air today in the 413. First Rep. Jim McGovern joins us for some mcgoverning as we ask questions from you about this state we're in and the policies being made for us. Then conductor Keith Lockhart makes his debut appearance as Tanglewood correspondent! We ask him all about the new season of music up in Lenox, and about cool things happening in classical. And then real live sin...

It's International Women's Day! Smack dab in the middle of Women's History Month! So we head to Puerto Rico to see what former Holyoke City Councilor Jossie Valentín, and her wife, Myriam Quiñones, are building there and why it felt right to leave the mainland and return home. Then we stroll around the corner to get our lexicon on with The Word Nerd at the Merriam-Webster headquarters. Plus we wan...

There's a Maple Sugar Moon tonight and sweetness in the air. Just in time for Massachusetts Maple Month, for which we travel to Granville to see the official first tap at Maple Corner Farm . Amy Traverso , food editor of Yankee Magazine, joins us to discuss highlights of her career and some cool things to expect this weekend at NEPM's Wine & Food Lovers’ Weekend. And we travel north and head u...

Today is all about competitions...sorta. We speak with head coach Lynn Hersey, director of sports and recreation Kristin Hughes, and professor Sam Intrator about the interconnected history of Smith College and women's basketball just as their current team win the regional championship and earn a place in the NCAA Division III’s sweet 16. Then Mr. Universe joins us to explain whether or not space i...

As the snow times beckon once again, we give you a few things to uplift your weekend! The folx behind Tumble: Science Podcast for Kids give us a quick look at their new winter special coming up, and we talk about... that thing that everybody does. Then the Wine Son and Yankee Sippah invite us into their basement for the first ever "wine thunderdome": two wines enter, one wine leaves. And just ahea...

A little old a little new, a lotta ruckus on today's show! Playwright/musician/creator extraordinaire Diana Oh joined us to discuss “My H8 for the Gr8 American Theater,” their show they've brought back to their alma mater, Smith College, this weekend. Along with Daphne Hwang Spencer, a current student and actor in the production, we take a look at some of the issues that show brings to light. The...

It's the first day of Women's History Month! (and our first week anniversary, woo!) We talk with up-and-coming folk-punk artist Sunny War about all the cool things in their latest album “Anarchist Gospel,” and the realities of large tour schedules. Then professor Lydia Moland delved into the interesting history of another Lydia, abolitionist Lydia Maria Child, including her connection to Florence....

This weekend Northampton will be full of great music as part of the Back Porch Festival . We chat with organizer Jim Olsen of Signature Sounds about who's coming, how the festival is growing, and what's great about bringing music to western Massachusetts. Then it's off to a small corner of Springfield where Jorge Sosa and the crew of Mi Tierra make some of the best tortillas in the country out of...

What do Massachusetts State Rep. Natalie Blais , former Northampton mayor David Narkewicz, and author Patricia Lee Lewis have in common? Each was an aide in to the late U.S. Rep. John Olver, who represented western Massachusetts first on Beacon Hill, and later in Washington, D.C. We speak with them about the man, his legacy, and how his passion to help his community encouraged them to do the same....

Florence, Massachusetts, has a long history of abolitionism and utopian communities. Who knew? We took at tour of the David Ruggles Center to learn more of the folx who were inspired to make us a more complete union. Then we sat with local author Margot Douaihy about her recent mystery novel “Scorched Grace,” just before she stops in South Hadley for her book tour. And Ray Berry of White Lion Brew...

Senator Elizabeth Warren joins us to talk about environmental issues in western Massachusetts, as well as her new position as chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee. Then we chat with screenwriter Sam Bromell about working with Baz Luhrmann and making music come alive on-screen for his adaptation of Elvis Presley's life and career. And how often do you get to sit with someone who has made...

Our very first episode , where in addition to over-excited introductions of ourselves, we chat with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey about where western Mass. fits in her overall plans, and GZA about why chess is important to his engagement with his fans. We also share some of your thoughts on the ups and downs of life here in the four counties of western Massachusetts. **Program note: we misse...

We talk to Bostonians about the dangers and delights of western Massachusetts. Does the border actually exist at Worcester? Are there dragons in them thar hills? Listen to The Fabulous 413 to find out!